Organic Consumers Choice Awards 2016

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2 What is the Organic Consumer Choice Awards (OCCA s)? Previously known as the National Organic Week Awards, the Organic Consumer Choice Awards (OCCA s) have been promoting and rewarding outstanding organic products and businesses across Australia since This year, we created a new award category Most Sustainable Organic award for organisations to enter. Closing date for all nominations will be Friday 9 th September Judges for awards are consumers who will cast their votes online via the National Organic Week website Why you should enter Voting opens from 17 th September to 16 th October Consumer choice is what drives organic sales and the OCCA s provide a great opportunity for organisations involved to reach out to existing and potential customers. By encouraging participation in voting, organisations can raise awareness of their products, services and brands, thus generating customer loyalty. Benefits include: Exposure throughout the NOW campaign raise awareness of your brand/products PR and media opportunities for your brand/products. Free license to use the OCCA s logo for award winners and runners-up promotional opportunity. Logo and/or product photo on the NOW website for one year. Trophies for National winners and certificates for State winners. All Australian organic businesses falling in the categories below are encouraged to submit an entry. Awards Categories, Rules & Criteria General rules of entry: - The OCCA s are only open to Australian based businesses. - Organisers reserve the right to place entries in categories they feel are more appropriate. Organic Product of the Year: Product must be sold in Australia. Product must be certified organic by a Department of Agriculture Accredited Certification Body such as NASAA Certified Organic (NCO), AUS-QUAL, Demeter Bio-Dynamic, Australian Certified Organic (ACO), Organic Food Chain (OFC) or Safe Food Production Queensland (SFQ). Organic Consumer Choice Awards 2016 Page 1 of 4

3 Product must fall into one of the following sub-categories: - Organic Fresh Food Product - Organic Pantry Food Product - Organic Non-Alcoholic Drink - Organic Alcoholic Drink - Organic Health & Beauty Product - Organic Garden & Farming Product Organic Retail Outlet Must have a physical shop presence (including chains). Only one location per entry is accepted in order to give equal chances to individual stores compared to chains and to foster customer loyalty. Organic Specialist: Open to all organic businesses specialised in a particular type of organic produce/product (e.g. organic meat, dairy, skincare, wine etc). Can have a physical shop presence (including chains) or be a web based business trading in Australia or both. Product range must include a minimum of 5 products. If a physical store, only one location per entry is accepted in order to give equal chances to individual stores compared to chains and to foster customer loyalty. Organic Online Store: Open to all online stores selling a wide range of organic products (for food and nonfood products). Organic Consumer Choice Awards 2016 Page 2 of 4

4 Organic Eating Out: Open to all restaurants, cafes providing organic options in their menu. Must able to demonstrate the sourcing of certified organic produce/ingredients, including certified in conversion (supporting documents may be Only one location per entry is accepted in order to give equal chances to individual stores compared to chains and to foster customer loyalty. Organic Wholesaler: Open to all certified organic wholesalers (supporting documents may be Favourite Organic Brand: Products from the brand must be available to buy in Australia. Products from the brand must be certified organic (supporting documents may be Sustainable Farmer of the Year: Open to all farmers/producers using sustainable methods/inputs. Open to any type of production (vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, wine etc.) Supporting documents may be requested. Separate entry form to complete with specific questions. Rising Star Farmer of the Year: Open to all farmers under 30. Open to all farmers/producers using organic/biodynamic methods/inputs. Open to any type of production (vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, wine etc.) Has a strong local/regional presence in their area. Promotes ecological diversity, soil health and nutrient dense food. Employs local people. Inspiration to local people. Separate entry form to complete with specific questions. Conventional Online Store with an Organic Offer: Be an Australian web based business trading in Australia offering a range of certified organic products (min. 30% including certified in conversion products). Most Sustainable Organic Award: Open to all organisations in Australia Has an energy sufficiency policy Has hybrid cars as company vehicles Supports biodiversity, water efficiency and pollution reduction within the organisation Organic Consumer Choice Awards 2016 Page 3 of 4

5 Selection of the winners National Awards: The entry with the highest number of votes in its category will win a National Award (trophy). Except for the Organic Product of the Year category for which the below applies: The product with the highest number of votes all sub-categories combined, will win the Organic Product of the Year Award (trophy). The product with the highest number of votes in its sub-category will win the subcategory award (certificate). State Awards: The entry with the highest number of votes in its State, regardless of categories, will win the State Award (certificate). This Award only applies to the following categories: Organic Retail Outlet, Organic Specialist, Organic Eating Out, Sustainable Farmer of the Year and Rising Star Farmer of the Year. Entry requirements Participants must duly complete the entry form and provide extra information if requested. All nominations are subject to final validations to ensure relevant award criteria are met. All nomination forms must be received by Friday 9 th September. On confirmation, participants must pay the correct entry fee. For more information, contact us on or info@core.asn.au Good luck! Please note, CORE is a not-for-profit organisation with limited resources. Every effort is made to carry out these programs and activities but every eventuality may not be foreseen. The programs, events and OCCA s Prospectus are therefore subject to change without notice. Organic Consumer Choice Awards 2016 Page 4 of 4